The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-19

ne went for Blake like a small typhoon.
They spared away at each other for few
moments, the old foreman and other printers
urging them both to pitch in" After
few blows had been exchanged, Blake's pro-
boscis having started leak, he found that
Sam was cooler and better boxer than
ne had calculated upon. He made a rush
TO cllnch Sam, but the future
humorist was too smart for him, for, NOV
ing aside step or two, he landed compile
OF ringing blows upon the side of Blake's
head that not only laid him prone upon the
floor, but by the force of the blows knocked
him under a frame, capsizing a half dozen
cases OF type over the whipped fellow. The
defeated ''gouger" halloaed Murder |!
Enough Let me up" and Sam said he was
satisfied if Blake would promise not to
make any more raids on his case.-
Blake crawled off home, washed up, put
plasters on his eyes and face, rubbed him
self with liniment, and then proceeded to
the police court. He found Judge Jecko
one of the greatest jokers and the most
popular Justice in st. Louis, ON duty. Blake
demanded that a warrant be issued for the
arrest of Samuel Clemens for an attempt at
manslaughter. The Justice listened, with
his keen black eyes twinkling, to the re-
hearsal of the efforts of Sam to slaughter
Blake, and advised him to go to the
Republican office and apologize to the
victor, and abjure "gougingn for the future
Blake would not listen to any such advice,
and Judge Jecko finally issued a warrant
for Clemens on simple charge of assault
The warrant was served in few moments,
the office being only a few blocks distant.
Sam was duly escorted to the court room by
constable, attended by his fellow typos.
His appearance was that of a natty, we'll
dressed, almost dudish young man, with
rosy cheeks and pleasant countenance, de-
noting anything but a pugilistic propensity.
Judge Jecko put him through the usual
police court examination, and listened to
Blakes vivid description of the savage
character of the assault upon him. The
Judge, however, like the crowd of specta-
tors present, considered the matter, as he
stated it, as one of those cases where the
old Latin adage came in very appropriately,
thought Clemens had simply applied what
was due to the occasion, and said he must
have been melted by the adage Fiot
justttid ruat coelum, which, Judge Jecko
| said, being translated into the st. Louis
vulgate, meant, "Let justice be done, though
the heavens fall" The Judge then said the
laws must be enforced, and, as Clemens had
| admitted that he had thrashed Blake to his
hearts content, and would do so again on
similar provocation, he felt that the pal
ladium of liberty would be placated by i'm
posing fine of 81, without costs of court,
upon Sanu9l clemens Tor violating the
laws, peace and dignity of the State of Mis-
souri, and the ordinances of the good city of
St. Louis.
Clemens forthwith produced an old-fash-
| Toned Mexican silver dollar and handed it to
! the clerk of the court. Judge Jecko came
down to the floor after adjourning the court
and told Sam and his friends that he had
not had SO much fun for years, and proposed
that all should adjourn to the hotel. He then
handed Clemens a SIS bill to pay for drinks
for the crowd, and the affair ended with
cheers for the plucly printer who would not
submit to "gougingn either at his case or in
an impromptu fight.
Blake took the next days train for Gin
cinnati, and it is doubtful if he has ever
since made himself known to the now cele-
brated Mark Twain. Sam Clemens shortly
after became identified in some business
with the celebrated Blair family, and OBJ
tanned through them position as clerk on a
Mississippi steamer, where he picked up his
cognomen of "Mark Twain" He has
always manifested soft side for the
printers up to the present time, but he has
never referred to the above triumph in a
pugilistic encounter, aud it would probably
never have come to light had not journal
list in this city, who was then brother
printer, related it to a reporter at an up
town club few evenings ago.